2014 Smart Fortwo Electric Driv Passion Full Electric Great For Your Daily on 2040-cars

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Smart offers $75 lease deal to Car2go users in San Diego

If you've been saving money by sharing a car instead of buying your own, then maybe you have enough left over to go lease one. Because if there's anything that sharing a car should teach you, it's to want your own, right? We're confused, too. Whatever the reasoning, Car2go users in San Diego are being offered an unusual – but darn affordable – deal on a new Smart ForTwo lease: just $75 a month for the Pure model (with $1,493 due at signing, plus government fees and taxes). To put that into Car2go carsharing terms, that's as much as it would cost to share the car for about 182 minutes (or for five hours at the $14.99 hourly max, if you're renting the car that way). The deal is only good for Car2go San Diego members and their family and friends at Smart Center San Diego until January 2, 2015. If you want the Passion model, it'll cost you $99 a month (plus the aforementioned $1,493 at signing). Smart sales a doing okay in the US this year. Through November 2014, Smart has sold 9,480 ForTwos in the US. That's up 13 percent from the 8,409 sold through November 2013. If you'd like to add to the total, and meet the qualifications, we've got the fine print disclosures below, including details on the 10,000 miles a year limit and a $395 turn-in fee. *Disclosure for pure model: Available only to qualified customers through Mercedes-Benz Financial services at only smart center San Diego only through 1/2/2015. On approved above average credit. Advertised lease payment based on MSRP of $14,370. All advertise prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. Cash Due at signing Includes $295 acquisition fee, first month's lease payment of $75, total due at signing $1,493 plus government fees and taxes. No security deposit required. Total payments equal $4,448. AT lease end, lessee pays for any amounts due under the lease, any official fees, and taxes related to the scheduled termination, excess wear and use plus 0.25/mile over 30,000 total miles, and a $395 turn-in fee. Purchase option at lease end for $8,478 plus taxes (and any other fees and charges due under the applicable lease agreement) in example shown. Specific vehicles are subject to availability and may have to be ordered. See dealer for details.

Street Glory Mappers turning cars into dynamic billboards like this

A French marketing firm with the impenetrable name of Street Glory Mappers is literally turning cars into billboards. Of course, we've all seen vehicles painted up for promotional use, but this company is taking that concept even further by including video.
Street Glory Mappers equips the vehicles with a large video screen behind the windshield to play whatever is being advertised. According to the company's promo, it may even be possibly to sync up the vehicle's lights with the show, as well. The firm claims that it's a great form of temporary, mobile marketing because the car can arrive at the location, play the video and then go away when the prospective audience leaves.
While it doesn't necessarily seem any more effective than other forms of advertising, the firm's idea is at least unobtrusive. After all, it's easier to ignore a stationary car than a person handing out flyers. However, vehicle flashing its lights and playing video could certainly distract other drivers.

Smart unveiling Brabus-edition Fortwo EV, e-bike in Geneva

Daimler's Smart minicar division will unveil both a battery-electric version of the Smart Brabus special-edition line and a Smart Brabus electric bike at the Geneva Motor Show this year.
The Smart Brabus electric drive Fortwo will be available in 12 countries by the end of the year. Parent company Daimler notes the model will include touches such as 17-inch alloy wheels, an "electric green" interior. The diminutive runabout will deliver about 80 horsepower, though the German automaker hasn't specified a single-charge range.
Meanwhile, Smart's Brabus ebike will have an electric motor that will deliver 500 watts of power, enough for a top speed of 25 miles per hour. It will also be available at Smart dealers by the end of the year. Smart isn't disclosing pricing on either the Brabus ForTwo EV or the new ebike but you can see both in our gallery.